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'Rooplal G' Wins Chutney Soca Monarch
Rooplal Girdharie during his first round performance
TriniSoca.com Reporters
Event Date: February 03, 2007
Posted: February 10, 2007
The Grand Final of the 2007 National Lotteries Chutney Soca Monarch was held on Saturday 03rd February, 2007, at Skinner Park in San Fernando.
After a long and challenging battle against fourteen finalists, three-time winner and reigning Chutney Soca Monarch, Rooplal Girdharrie, captured the crown for the fourth time with the first prize of $200,000.
The winner of the People's Choice, with a prize of thirty thousand dollars, was five-time winner Rikki Jai who placed second in the competition with three-time winner Heeralal Rampartap placing third in the finals.
Even though it rained a bit before the show started, it did not stop the thousands of patrons who turned up for what turned out to be a very exciting and entertaining event, which was organized by Southex Promotions.
The excitement started behind the seated area in the park where the Durga Shakti Dance Company and the Vikash Dancers were gathered for a brief warm-up session to the sweet sounds of the St. John's United Tassa Group and the Siparia Rhythm Band. The Dexter Stewart and Associates Point Fortin Moko Jumbies were also part of the warm-up session before dancing through the packed audience. They made a spectacular impression with their brilliant green outfits and green and silvery painted faces and upper bodies.
The show started with an explosive opening act featuring Machel Montano who performed a number of Chutney, Calypso and Soca hits. Known for his high-energy performances, Machel kept the audience jumping and swaying throughout his entire stint on the stage.
Immediately after Machel's performance, the first half of the competition started with five-time Chutney Soca Monarch Rikki Jai as the first contestant. Accompanied by the TTEC Gayatones Orchestra, Jai, who was obviously one of the audience favorites, sang "Kangan Churaway". Following Rikki Jai was Luta singing "Cultural Recipe". Tricia Hamilton sang "Chokka" and Adesh Samaroo sang "Julay Julay".
At the end of the first half of the competition, Senator the Honourable Joan Yuille-Williams made an appearance on stage to acknowledge the audience, the promoters and everyone involved in the show.
While the finalists were preparing for the second half of the competition, Anil Bheem and the Bheemers Orchestra maintained the hype in the audience with a few popular hit songs.
The competition was quite impressive in its dramatic production of song, music, spicy dance routines, drama and special effects. The MCs for the night were Marissa Maharaj and Ken Lally.
The results of the competition were as follows:
Place / Name / Points
1st / Rooplal Girdharrie / 956
2nd / Rikki Jai / 946
3rd / Heeralal Rampartap / 942
4th / Carlene Wells / 906
5th / Adesh Samaroo / 863
6th / Sarika Mahabir / 857
7th / Soca Elvis / 855
8th / Tricia Hamilton / 849
9th / Neehsan 'Hitman' Prabhu / 832
10th / Lal Bharat
Chutney Soca Monarch Finals 2007 in pictures:
www.trinisoca.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=54946
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